From Richmond and Motueka to Tākaka and Murchison, when you're charged with an offence, served with court papers, or sacked from your job, you need answers fast — not a wait until Monday morning. The Legal Hotline is a free legal-information line: an AI legal assistant trained on New Zealand law gives you clear, plain-language information any hour, and you can ask as many questions as you like. It's legal information, not legal advice, and it won't create a lawyer-client relationship. The guide below explains how the courts and laws that affect Tasman residents actually work — and we'll note when a paid consultation with a New Zealand lawyer is the right next step.
Free legal information. Not legal advice. Available 24/7 across Tasman.
Tell the AI legal assistant what's happening — a drink-driving charge after a stop on State Highway 6, a care-of-children dispute, an unpaid-wages problem at a Motueka orchard, a Disputes Tribunal claim — and get clear legal information on how New Zealand law works and what your options are. Ask as many questions as you like. That's legal information, not legal advice on your specific case, and using the service won't create a lawyer-client relationship — we're not a law firm. New Zealand has one national legal system, so the law is the same across the country; what changes locally is which court and which services you use. If you've been arrested, you have the right to speak to a lawyer before answering questions — say so, and you can contact the Police Detention Legal Assistance (PDLA) duty-lawyer scheme any hour.
A lot of people in Richmond, Motueka, or Golden Bay assume there's a local court to deal with their charge or dispute. There isn't. Tasman district has no courthouse, so almost every criminal charge, family matter, and civil claim for Tasman residents is dealt with at the Nelson (Whakatū) District Court at 200 Bridge Street in Nelson City — the same building that hosts the High Court, Family Court, Youth Court, Disputes Tribunal, and Tenancy Tribunal sittings for the region. That has real consequences: the date and time on your summons, where you need to be, and how far you may have to travel from places like Tākaka or Murchison. Missing a court date — or turning up at the wrong place — can lead to a warrant for your arrest. New Zealand's law is the same nationwide, but knowing exactly which court hears your matter, and when, is local and it matters. Call the Legal Hotline now for free information on how the court process works and what to expect — that's information, not legal advice on your case.
The Tasman and Nelson area has a genuine network of free and low-cost legal help, but most of it runs on business hours and many services apply income or eligibility tests. These organisations are useful for criminal, family, employment, housing, and ACC problems — just know they can be busy and gated. The Legal Hotline is designed to be different: instant, free legal information with no income test, live now on 0800 461 100. These are also real, currently available New Zealand resources worth knowing right now.
Wherever you are in Tasman, the line is free and answered 24/7 — including:
Is there a free legal hotline in Tasman I can call right now?
Yes — the Legal Hotline is a free legal-information line. An AI legal assistant gives you clear legal information on New Zealand law any hour, with no income test, and you can ask as many questions as you like. It's legal information, not legal advice, and it won't create a lawyer-client relationship. Other local resources also help: Nelson Bays Community Law serves Nelson, Tasman, and Buller free of charge (0800 246 146), and the Citizens Advice Bureau (cab.org.nz) offers free guidance on everyday problems. When you decide you want your own lawyer, the New Zealand Law Society's 'Find a Lawyer' directory can point you to one.
I was just arrested in Tasman. What should I do?
Stay calm, give your name and details if required, and say as little else as possible — then clearly tell police you want to speak to a lawyer before answering questions. Under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 you have the right to consult and instruct a lawyer without delay and the right to remain silent, and police must give you a reasonable opportunity to contact one. The free Police Detention Legal Assistance (PDLA) duty-lawyer scheme is available any hour for people in custody. Your case would be dealt with at the Nelson District Court. You can also call the Legal Hotline now for free legal information on how the criminal process — bail, first appearance, disclosure — works; that's information, not legal advice.
What's the drink-driving limit in New Zealand, and where is my case heard?
Under the Land Transport Act 1998, the adult limit is 250 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath or 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. For drivers under 20 the limit is zero. Driving over the limit is a criminal offence — New Zealand calls it drink-driving, not 'DUI' — and penalties can include fines, disqualification from driving, and in serious or repeat cases imprisonment. For Tasman residents the charge is heard at the Nelson District Court. Call the Legal Hotline now for free information on how drink-driving law and the court process work; we can also point you to a lawyer if you want to defend the charge.
Where do I go to court if I live in Richmond, Motueka, or Golden Bay?
Tasman district does not have its own courthouse. Criminal, family, and most civil cases for people across Tasman — including Richmond, Motueka, Tākaka, Wakefield, Brightwater, Māpua, and Murchison — are dealt with at the Nelson (Whakatū) District Court at 200 Bridge Street, Nelson, just over the boundary in Nelson City. That same building hosts High Court, Family Court, Youth Court, Disputes Tribunal, and Tenancy Tribunal sittings. Always check the exact court, date, and time on your paperwork, because missing a court date can lead to a warrant. Call the Legal Hotline for free information on what to expect at court — that's information, not legal advice on your case.
My partner and I have separated — how is our property and care of the children sorted out in New Zealand?
Relationship property is generally divided under the Property (Relationships) Act 1976, which usually splits relationship property equally after three years together, while arrangements for children are decided under the Care of Children Act 2004 based on the child's best interests. Dissolution of marriage or civil union runs under the Family Proceedings Act 1980, and the Family Violence Act 2018 provides protection orders where there's family violence. These matters are heard in the Family Court, which sits at Nelson for Tasman families. Call the Legal Hotline now for free legal information on how separation, care of children, and relationship property work — that's information, not advice on your situation.
I think I was unfairly dismissed from my job in Tasman. What can I do?
Under the Employment Relations Act 2000 you may be able to raise a personal grievance — for example for unjustified dismissal — but you generally must raise it with your employer within 90 days of the problem (or of when you became aware of it), so timing is critical. If it isn't resolved, the matter can go to the Employment Relations Authority and then the Employment Court. The Holidays Act 2003 and Minimum Wage Act 1983 also set minimum entitlements for pay and leave. Nelson Bays Community Law (0800 246 146) can help locally. Call the Legal Hotline now for free legal information on your employment rights and the 90-day deadline; that's information, not legal advice on your case.
How long do I have to take a civil claim in New Zealand, and where does it go?
For most civil claims the Limitation Act 2010 sets a general deadline of six years, often running from when the claim arose or was reasonably discoverable, though some claims have different rules — and missing the deadline usually means you lose the right to sue. Where the claim goes depends on its size: the Disputes Tribunal handles claims up to $60,000 informally and without lawyers, the District Court hears claims up to $350,000, and larger claims go to the High Court. Importantly, the Accident Compensation scheme (ACC) bars most personal-injury lawsuits in New Zealand. Call the Legal Hotline now for free information on how limitation periods and the right forum apply to your situation.
How is the Legal Hotline different from a lawyer or legal aid?
We're a fast first step, not a law firm. Our AI legal assistant gives you general legal information about New Zealand law instantly when you call — but it does not give legal advice on your specific case, is not a substitute for a lawyer, and using it won't create a lawyer-client relationship. We're also not legal aid. Government legal aid and community law centres like Nelson Bays Community Law offer free help but screen by income or eligibility and operate mostly in business hours. When you want your own lawyer, the Law Society's 'Find a Lawyer' directory and a paid consultation are the right next step. For now, you get clear legal information fast, any hour, with no income test.
Does New Zealand law work the same way in Tasman as in the rest of the country?
Yes. New Zealand has one national legal system with no states or provinces, so Acts of Parliament — the Crimes Act 1961, Land Transport Act 1998, Care of Children Act 2004, Employment Relations Act 2000, and the rest — apply the same way in Richmond as anywhere else. What's local is practical: which courthouse hears your case (for Tasman, the Nelson District Court), which community law centre and legal-aid providers serve you, and the local context of your problem. The Legal Hotline's AI legal assistant is trained on New Zealand law, so the information you get reflects how things actually work — and we'll tell you where to go locally.
Can the Legal Hotline help with an immigration or visa matter in Tasman?
Immigration is national, governed by the Immigration Act 2009 and administered by Immigration New Zealand, so the core rules are the same wherever you live. Call the Legal Hotline for clear legal information on visas, residence, work and study permits, deportation, and appeals to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal — that's information, not legal advice on your case. For free local help you can also contact Nelson Bays Community Law (0800 246 146), and when you need representation the Law Society's 'Find a Lawyer' directory lists lawyers who practise immigration law.
Are you a lawyer practising in the Tasman and Nelson area and ready for new clients? Our free legal-information line is live on 0800 461 100, and paid consultations with local lawyers are live too — connecting people in Richmond, Motueka, Tākaka, and beyond with counsel when they need representation at the Nelson courts. Join the network now to receive matched, paying referrals in your practice areas — criminal, family, immigration, employment, civil, and more.
General legal information, not legal advice. We research every page from primary sources — legislation, the courts, and government legal-aid bodies — and check it for accuracy. Spotted something out of date? Tell us at admin@platfirm.ai.
Whether you're in Richmond, Motueka, Golden Bay, or up the valley at Murchison, legal trouble doesn't keep business hours. The Legal Hotline gives you free, plain-language legal information on New Zealand law, available any hour — ask the AI legal assistant as many questions as you like. It's legal information, not legal advice, and we're not a law firm. When you decide you need a lawyer, we'll help you find the right next step.
Free legal information. Not legal advice.